Slub-catcher or yarn cleaner



Dec. 23, 1952 BR. SWANSON SLUB CATCHER OR YARN CLEANER 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed March 10, 1948 INVENTOR. ErnesZ'R. Swans on BY W M, M w-dd h Dec. 23, 1952 E. R SWANSON SLUB CATCHER OR YARN CLEANER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 10, 1948 l ..,r::L J.

2/ INVENTOR. Evzesi R. S wan son BY M,

M vw w-w flTTORNEYS Patented Dec. 23, 1952 15 Claims.

This invention relates to slub-catchers and yarn-cleaners for removing slubs, bunches, lint, motes and other foreign matter from yarn, thread and similar strand materials during winding or other processes of transferring the strand material in the textile art.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated having opposed elements forming a slit or opening therebetween through which the yarn feeds with means for adjusting the width of the opening with precision and accuracy in accordance with the different size or thickness of the strand material to be operated upon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated in which one of the opposed elements has a serrated or toothed edge for engaging slubs or enlargements on the strand material to break them out of the yarn.

Another object is to provide means for adjusting the slit or opening formed by the yarnengaging elements of the device by means of a gauge inserted therebetween without danger of damaging or dulling the points of the fine teeth on one of the elements.

Another object is to provide manually-operable means for maintaining the yarn-engaging elements in open relationship to facilitate cleaning the device or for other purposes.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the improved slub-catcher or yarn-cleaner as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the present improved slub-catcher mounted on the bracket of a tension-device and arranged to operate on a yarn or thread feeding through the tension-device to deliver to a winding or other machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the slubcatcher and yarn-cleaner shown without the tension-device, but with the mounting bracket indicated in fragmentary view;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the slub-catcher and yarn-cleaner;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged rearward elevational view f the same;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end view of the same looking in the direction indicated by the arrow a in Fig. 3 and illustrating the movable yarn- -engaging element as rocked away from its oppo- .site cooperating element with the parts held in UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 2,625,365 SLUB-CATQHER 0R YARN CLEANER Ernest R. SwanscnfCranston, R. L, assignor to Universal Winding Company, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 10, 1948, Serial No. 13,977

needle-like teeth on its edge adapted to engage open relationship by manually-adjustable means;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of the device taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and showing the parts in operative relationship; and

at? Fig. '7 is a detailed perspective view of the thimble-like nut employed for securing certain parts of the device in adjusted position.

Numerous types of slub-catchers have been previously used in the textile art for cleaning yarn, thread and similar strand materials during the feeding thereof in transfer processes such as winding the yarn into cops or packages. Most of these prior art devices comprise a fixed element across which the yarn draws with a movable element or blade arranged in spaced relation to the fixed element to form a slit therebetween through which the yarn passes to clear it of slubs, lint, motes and other adhering matter. One or both of the yarn-engaging elements are usually adjustable to vary the width of the slit through which the yarn passes in accordance with the size or thickness of the material. In some instances it has been the practice to provide one of the yarn-engaging elements with and remove the slubs or enlargements and in such case it has usually been found diihcult to adjust the relative positions of the elements with a gauge inserted therebetween without bending "or blunting the fine teeth on one of the elements. It is, therefore, a particular object of the present invention to provide means for mounting the element having the serrated or toothed edge on another element provided with straight edge portions in alinement with the points of the teeth so that a metal gauge, such as a thin strip of sheet-steel, may be inserted between the two members to adjust the width of the slit or opening formed thereby without damage to the teeth on the serrated element. To accomplish this purpose one preferred form of slub-catcher is shown herein, by way of ex ample, it being understood that variations may be made in the shape and arrangement of its.

parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. i

Referring to the drawings, slub-oatchers are usually arranged in cooperation with a tensiondevice for applying a drag on the yarn to control its feed as it delivers to a winding machineor other textile apparatus and Fig. 1 illustrates thepresent improved slub-catcher as mounted on a bracket 2 carrying a disk-type of tension-device indicated generally at 3. The bracket 2 may between the disks 6 and i and directing it there;

from to another wire guide such as shown at I I in Fig. 1; it being understood that the tens ondevice and wire-guiding means as above described hole in the plate 33 with its threaded end screwed are of conventional type and form no part of the present invention.

The present improved slub-catcher and yarncleaner is shown more in detail in Figs. 3 to 6, being illustrated in vertical position for the sake of clarity ratherthan in the inclined relationship shownin Fig. .1. Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the bracket 2 an integral portion 5 projecting upwardly from its rearward end for mounting the parts of the slub-catcher; or, in other cases, the mounting for the slub-catcher may be made separate from the bracket for attachment to another partof a machine. ,As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the slubcatcher mounting-may comprise a horizontallyextending bar [5 which is attached to the rearward cross'strip l5 of the part 5 of the bracket 2 by means of screws I! inserted from the rear may be constructed with with their heads counter-sunk in the metal, see

Fig;"5 This bar-portion [5 of the mounting is adapted to serve as the support for the anvil across which the yarn feeds as it is operated upon by the opposed scraper-element and, preferably. its vupper portion is covered with a hardened metal facin 23. The facing 2i] may be constructedfrom a strip 2! of sheet-metal disposedvertically between the support or bar 15 andthe cross-strip it of the bracket 2 with its upperportion folded over at right-angles to overlie the upper face of the bar. The facing 20 constitutes the anvil proper, being held in place by the screws l1, previously described, which are inserted through the cross-strip'lfi of the bracket 2 and threaded into holes in the crossbar; [5. fThroughv this arrangement the anvilfa'cing. 28 may ,be removed for replacement should it become. worn or grooved by the yarn. Rising from the crossbar I5 is an angular arm 22, see Fig. 5, made integral therewithand terminating at the top in a bifurcated portion form ing spaced bearing hubs Z3 and 24. Pivotally mounted on the upper end of the arm, 22 is a swinging member 25 having ears 2e straddling the bearing hubs 23 and 2 with a pin 21 extending through the ears and the bearings. A helical spring 28 coiled around the pin 2! between the bearing hubs 23 and 24 has one end hooked around the main portion of the arm 22 and its opposite end projecting into engagement with the rearward face of the member 25.

The spring 28 tends to rock the member 25 in clockwise diyarn-cleaner which is of novel construction and 4 arrangement as next described. The scraperelement comprises a plate 33 carrying a serratededged yam-engaging blade 35 pivoted thereon with the plate providing the adjusting means therefor. As shown most clearly in Fig. 6, the plate 33 abuts a finished face on the front of the member 25 and is secured in adjustable position thereon by means of a stud or screw 36. The screw 33 projects through a slot 31 in the member 25, see Fig. 4, and extends through a into athimble-like nut 38. The head of the nut 38 bears against a cover-plate 53 which abuts the front of the plate 33 and is formed at the top with. a rearwardly-projecting flange 4| overlying the upperedge of the plate. The nut 38, shown'in perspective view in Fig. '7, is formed with a square-sided shank 39 which fits within the sides of a slot 42 in the cover-plate 43. Through this arrangement the plate 33 may be adjusted-up and down without disturbing the relationship v.of the. cover-plate MLthe upper fiangeof which underliesa shouldered ledge 43 on the mounting member 25, see Fig. 6. By tightening the screw v35 in the nut 38 the plate 33 may be securely fastenedin adjusted position with its lower edge spaced above the anvil-facing 29 as shown in Fig-6.

Means may be provided, for'resiliently sliding theplate 33 downwardly when the screw 35 is released to engage its lower edge with a gauge placed on the anvil-facing .28; the gauge being usually, in the form of a thin strip-of steel such as indicated at G in Fig. 3 to establish the proper size. of the slit ;or opening between the yarnengaging elementsyof the; slub-catchen- For slidingtheyplatei3 a hair-pin-shaped spring 45, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, is mounted with its looped end encircling a pin 46 which projectsrearwardly from the cover plate at at one end thereof. Fig.3 showing the pin 43 in dotted lines-with its head 4'! represented in full lines.- =The'-pin 46 is preferably inserted through a hole in the cover-plate and its head It! may be welded or brazed to the forward face of said plate. One arm 48 of the spring e5 underlies the flange 4| on the cover-plate 43 in engagement therewith while its opposite arm 33 is bowed upwardly and extended outwardly toward the center of the plate 33 to bear against the upper edge thereof. Through this form of corn struction thespringAS normally tends to slide the plate 33 downwardly and when the stud 35 is released the spring will seat the lower edge of the plate against the gauge inserted thereunder to automatically set the device for a predetermined; size of opening-through which the yarn is caused, to feed-.;

In accordance with one-novel feature of the present invention the plate 33 is provided solely for setting or adjusting the width of the slit or opening between the yarn-engaging elements without anyfunction as regards the scraping or cleaning action of the device. 7 That is to say, the scraping or cleaning action is performed by the pivoted blade 35 which is mounted at the rearward side of the plate 33 in inclined relation thereto with the teeth 56 on its serrated edge projecting into an elongate opening extending along the lower edge of the plate. Stated another Way, the adjusting plate 33 has its lower edge cut away to form a narrow recess at 5| xtending throughout the greater portion of its length. At opposite ends of the recess the'plate 33 is formed with straight- -edged portions 52-..52 .for engaging with thegauge placed on the anvil-facingw, 'thusjto predetermine the-width of the opening between,

the points of the teeth-53 and the anvil-facing.

but withoutcausing contact of the gauge with tige- Pre teethliable to damage or dull their points.

erably, the bottom portion of the p-latets is beveled at 53 to reduce the width of its edges 52,

see Fig. 6. The scraper-blade35 is formed with a a pairof ears..5t-'-.54,'see Figs. 4 and 6, which are apertured to receive, apin '55 held in rearwardly: projecting bearings :onthe plate. 33; The bearingstfi may be formed by punchingnarrow strips'from the metal of the platetfi and bending them rearwardly'to stand at right-angles thereto I as indicated more particularly in Figs. 3. and 6 A lug 5] punched or sheared from the, plate 33 is bentrearwardly to form a stop or detent for engagement .with the upper edge of the blade 35 g to limitits pivotal motion about the, pintfi. j 3 A helical spring fill coiled around the pivot-pince has one end 5! extending upwardly and bearing against the back of the plate while its opposite end 62 is hooked over the upper edg of the blade 35 to swing thefllatter downwardly at an angle to the plate with its lower serrated edge engaging with the edge of the recess 5! in the plate. In this way the scraper-blade 35 is normally resil iently retained in position with its needle pointed teeth .58 projectedthrough the opening or recess 5! in the plate 33; that is, directed toward the feeding strand of yarn at anangle theretoto adapttheteeth to engage thick slubs, bunches or other foreign matter onthe yarn to clear it therefronn The objector employing a serrated edge or, needle-pointedteeth on the scraper-blade for engagement with slubs and the like is to insure thatisuch enlargements cannot pass through the slubecatcher and cleaner without breaking the yarn. That is, where heretofore plain or straightedgedblades have been used with their edges;

opposed to an anvil or the like to form a slit, it hasbeen found that they will simply flatten or iron out the enlargements or slabs and allow them the yarn thread and-other strand materials while break-ingout slub,bunches or other defects there;

carries the plate33 and the hinged scraper blade on the arm 22 which 35 is pivotall mounted It has been, stated that thememberts which i forms the: main supportoi the movable parts o f 1 the device and normally this member is urged downwardly by the relatively heavy spring 23 withits lower portion engaging the lug to maintain the plate 33 and the hinged blade in operative position relative to the anvil-facing 2E When it is required to clean the device, however,

or to raise the plate 33 and blade 35 for any other purpose means are provided for holding the member, 25 rocked upwardly. to the position shownin Fig. '5. 1811011 means may comprise a rockable,

arm formed by the right-angled bent end of a rod. whichmay. be pivoted in av hub or bearing. 61 at the bottom of .the ;arm 22, seeFigs. 2

and 5. ;.'Ihe;arm t5 maynormally be held in its lowered position shown in Fig. :6 by meansof a set-screw 68 threaded. through ,the :hub 61, .see

Fig. 3,,and by releasing the screw the arm may be turned upwardly at anangle to the horizontal to engage its :end. under. the, bottom of the member 25 to 'holdlthelatter-raised with the bottom of the plate. 33 and the serrated edgeof the blade 35 elevatedabove the anvil-facezt ioraconsiderable distanceas shownin Fig. 5.

It will be observedfrom the foregoing specification that ..the present invention. provides an especially efficient slub-catcher and yarn-cleaner havingv the cleaning blade serrated or formed withv needle-points on its yarn-engaging edge,

with provision for adjusting the size of theopen- I ing through. which, the yarn feeds by means of a hardenedgauge withoutdanger of bending or blunting the needle polnted teethv on the blade.

Theiinvention also providesfor rapid andconvenient adjustment. of the parts of the device with great precision and accuracy in accordance with different sizes or thicknesses of the strand material to be operated upon and Without chance of maladjustment due. to the human element. While :the improved device is herein shown as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it v is to be understood that various modifications may .be made in the shape and arrangementof its parts without departing .from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A slub-catcher and yarn-cleaner comprising a support, a member fixedly mounted on said support to adapt a strand of yarn to feed there: across, .a. movable member adjustable on the support toward. and away from the fixed member to regulate the size of the opening therebetween,

mea nsvto secure said movable member in fixed relation to said fixed member, said movable member having a recess in its edge overlying the fixedmember, and a scraper-blade mounted on the movable member in inclined relation thereto and formed with teeth projecting into therecess in the movable member.

2. A slub-detector and yarn-cleaner"comprising an anvil across which a strand of yarn is adapted to feed, a member mounted to move relatively to the anvil to adjust its edge in opposedrelation thereto to form an opening therebetween, said movable member formed with a recess in its edge with a portion projecting from the end of the recess toward the anvil to provide a gauging face,

and .a scraper-blade mounted on the movable:

member and provided on its edge with needle-' pointed teeth projecting into therecess. of the movable. member with their points in alinement with the gauging face thereof 3. A slub-detector and yarn-cleaner comprising a support, an anvil fixed on said support to adapt a strand of yarn to draw thereacross, a member movablytmou-nted on the support for adjustment towardand away from said anvil, saidmovable memberhaving a recess in its lower. edge with projectingportions at either end thereof pro-- videdwith straight edges for engagement witha gaugeplaced on the anvil, and a scraper-blade mounted on said movable member and provided with needle-like teeth on its edge projecting, into the'recess .in said movable member-with -theii ends in alinement with the straightedgesthereof.

4. A slub-detector and yarn-cleaner comprising 7 a support, a fixed element on said support across which a strand of yarn is adapted to feed, a plate mounted on the support to move toward and away from the fixed element to vary the width of the opening therebetween, means for fastening said plate in adjusted position on the support, said plate having a longitudinally-extending recess in its lower edge with projections at its ends formed with straight faces in parallel relation to the fixed element, and a scraper-blade mounted on the rear of the plate and formed with teeth in its lower edge projecting into the recess in the lower edge of the plate with the ends of the teeth in alinement with the straight faces at the ends of he recess.

5. A slub-detector and yarn-cleaner comprising a relatively fixed anvil for supporting a feeding yarn strand, a plate mounted above the anvil and adjustable to form an opening of variable width therebetween, said plate formed with a relatively narrow recess in its lower edge and projecting end portions having straight faces parallel to the plane of the anvil, a scraper-blade pivoted on the rearward side of the plate and formed with teeth on its lower edge, and resilient means for maintaining said scraper-blade with its teeth projecting into the recess in the lower edge of the plate with their ends in alinement with the 7 straight faces thereof.

6. A slub-detector and yarn-cleaner comprising a support, an anvil fixedly mounted on said support to adapt a strand of yarn to draw thereacross, a member pivoted on the support above the anvil to adapt it to rock toward and away therefrom, a plate slidably mounted on said rockable member to adapt it for adjustment with its lower edge in spaced relation to the anvil, means for securing said plate in adjusted position in relation to the anvil, a scraper-blade pivoted on the rear of the plate and formed with teeth on its lower edge, and a spring for rocking said blade on the plate to project the points of its teeth into the opening between the plate and the anvil.

7. A slub-detector and yarn-cleaner comprising a mounting, an anvil fixed to the mounting and adapted to support a strand of yarn drawing thereacross, a rockable member pivoted on the support above the anvil, a spring for rocking said member toward the anvil, means for limiting the rocking motion of said member, a plate adjustable on said rockable member for supporting it with its edge in spaced relation to the anvil, a scraper-blade pivoted to the plate and formed with a serrated edge, and a spring operating on said scraper-blade to maintain it in position with its serrated edge projected into the space between the edge of the plate and the top of the anvil.

8. A slub-detector and yarn-cleaner comprising a fixed anvil for supporting a strand of yarn to feed thereacross, a rockable member pivoted above said anvil, a spring for rocking said member toward the anvil, a stop for limiting the movement of said member toward the anvil, a plate adjustable vertically on said rockable member, a spring for moving said plate to adjust it towards the anvil, means for securing said plate in adjusted position on the rockable member, a blade pivoted at the rear of the plate and formed with a serrated lower edge, and a spring for rocking said blade into inclined relation to the plate to project its teeth into the space between the plate and the anvil.

9. A sIub-detector and yarn-cleaner comprising a mounting, a hardened facing supported on the mounting to form an anvil across which a yarn is adapted to feed, a plate adjustably mounted above the anvil, means for securing said plate in adjusted position relatively to the anvil, said plate having a longitudinally-extending recess in its lower edge bordered by plane faces adapted to aline in parallel relation to the anvil, and a scraper-blade mounted on the plate in inclined relation thereto and formed on its edge with teeth projecting into the recess in the plate with their points in alinement with the straight faces thereof whereby to provide for the insertion of a gauge between the straight faces of the plate and the anvil to regulate the width of the opening therebetween.

10. In combination, a fixed anvil for supporting a strand of yarn to feed thereacross, a member rockably mounted above the anvil to swing toward the latter, a spring for rocking said member, means to limit the rocking motion of said member, a movable member supported on said rockable member, means to adjust said movable member to position its lower edge in spaced relation to the anvil, a scraper-blade mounted on the movable member, a spring for rocking said scraper-blade to project its lower edge into the space between the edge of the plate and the anvil, and manually-operable means for supporting the rockable member in elevated position to Withdraw its lower edge and the edge of the scraper-blade into open relation to the anvil.

11. In a device of the type indicated, a support, a stationary member fixed on said support in position to adapt a strand of yarn to feed thereacross, a rockable member pivoted on said support above the stationary member, a spring for rocking said member to move it toward the stationary member, means to limit the movement of the rockable member to maintain it in fixed relation to the stationary member, a member adjustable on the roclzable member to position it in opposed relation to the stationary member, a scraper-blade carried by said member for engagement with a yarn feeding across the stationary member, and an arm rockably mounted on the support to adapt it to be turned into position engaging the rockable member to hold the latter raised with the adjustable member and scraper-blade elevated above the stationary member.

12. In a device of the type specified, a niounting, an anvil fixedly supported on said mounting to adapt a strand of yarn to feed thereacross, a member rockabiy mounted above the anvil, a scraper-blade adjustable on said member to position its edge in opposed relation to the anvil and provide a slit therebetween, means for rocking said blade-supporting member to normally maintain the scraper-blade in cooperative relation to the anvil, and an arm pivoted on the support and adapted to be manually rotated to engage its end with the rockable member to hold the latter elevated and the scraperblade spaced above the anvil in open relation thereto.

13. In a device of the type indicated, a fixed rest for supportin a strand of yarn to feed thereacross, a rockable member pivoted above said rest to swing toward the latter, a stop for limiting the movement of said rockable member toward the rest, a member adjustable on said rockable member in spaced relation to the rest, means for securing said last-named member in adjusted position on the rockable member, and a scraperblade pivoted on the adjustable member and formed with a serrated lower edge with teeth projecting into the space between the adjustable member and the rest.

14. In combination, fixed means for supporting a strand of yarn to feed thereacross, a member rockably mounted above said fixed means to swing toward the latter, means to limit the rocking motion of said member, a movable member supported on said rockable member, means to adjust said movable member to position its lower edge in spaced relation to the yarn-supporting means, and a scraper-blade pivotally mounted on the movable member and formed with teeth on its edge projecting into the space between the edge of the movable member and the fixed means which supports the strand of yarn.

15. In a device of the type specified, an anvil fixedly supported to adapt a strand of yarn to feed thereacross, a member rockably mounted above the anvil, a plate adjustably mounted on 5 ad ted to project into the space betwe'erf'the edge of the plate and the anvil. ERNEST R. SWANSON.

. 2 REFERENCES CITED I 10 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 15 1,664,794 Seeley Apr. 3, 1928 1;"Zl6,452 Maino June 11, 1929 2,150,387 Marsh Mar. 14, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 20 Number Country Date Great Britain Nov. 20, l930 10 the rockable member to position its lower edge in opposted relation to the anvil and provide a slit therebetween, and a scraper-blade pivoted -on one side' of the plate and formed with teeth on itsjedge 

